Thanks to all who read this story! I don't think I'm very good at re-writes, so it means a lot that ppl actually like my stories. Hope you like this part.

"With Some Scoobies on the Side Series"

By: Lynn

DISCLAIMERS: Duh guys! Nothing's mine!

DISTRIBUTION: You ask me, I ask you... you know the process. I got the transcripts from Link to previous parts: http: This is a re-write of most of the Angel episodes with the Scoobies in the mix. Whoohoo! This is gonna be fun!

SPOILERS: I guess the beginning of Ats.

E-MAIL: A/N: Okay, so during the Ascension thing, Angel didn't tell Buffy he wasn't saying goodbye, and the whole "one last look by the fire trucks" thing didn't happen. And Faith didn't go all psycho. In my story, her association with the mayor was just a decoy.

Part 5

"Got it," Buffy announced and held up the last bullet she pulled from Angel's chest with tweezers and put it in a pan with the others.

"Finally! I thought I was going to faint while barfing," Cordelia cried out and handed Buffy a piece of gauze. "Okay. So, it's over, right? We're going to be okay. You put the fear of God into that Russell guy. He's not going to come looking for me, right?"

As a response, they all just looked at each other.

Later on the next day, Angel sat on the edge of his bed in his dim bedroom, staring at his phone. The vampire entrepreneur known as Russell Winters was no longer a problem. He had went to his establishment alone, exchanged a few words, and kicked him out the window into the daylight. It was so simple, he berated himself for not thinking about it earlier.

After a few more moments of staring, he picked up the receiver and dialed the well remembered number.

He waited two rings before the person on the other end picked up.

"Hello? Hello," Buffy's sweet voice said. Too afraid to say anything, Angel hung up the phone, mentally branding himself a chicken.

"You know that's rude."

Angel jumped in surprise, for the blonde that he had just called was standing in the door way, her silver flip phone in hand.

"That's like the fifteenth time you've done that," she walked slowly into the apartment and closer to him. Being the noble gentleman he was, he stood up and met her in the middle, keeping a safe amount of distance of course. "I'm wondering if you have something important to tell me...," she raised an eyebrow, "Do you?"

He glanced away for a second, "I uh... I got rid of Russell."

"Good... But that's not it."

"It's um. It's nothing."

"Fine. If you won't talk, I will." She pivoted and moved a few steps away from him before looking him in the eyes again. "When I thought you were dead, it felt as if a part of me died, too. Now that I know that you're alive and close... I don't want to go on without you."

Angel sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Buffy, you know I miss you, too, but the circumstances from before are still there."

"I know that, Angel. I had a long talk with Willow last night, and she helped me weigh the ups and downs of our situation. We can find ways around the downs. It won't be easy, but we can work through it... together."

Buffy was definitely determined, and from the look on Angel's face, she knew he was starting to break, already. She was the slayer, and she wouldn't go down without a fight.

"And the immortality, how are we going to find a way around that?"

Buffy frowned. "That wouldn't matter anyway. I'm the slayer, remember? We don't have very long life spans like everybody else."

"Don't say that Buffy."

"It doesn't matter if I say it or not. Slayers are meant to die young."

"No," He stalked closer to her and gripped her shoulders, "Not you. You're going to live a long, fulfilling, happy life."

"And the only way I'll be happy is if I'm with you," she rose a hand to cup his cheek, "Can you honestly tell me you don't feel the same as me when we're apart? Loneliness? Heartache?"

For long moments there was nothing but silence, and eye gazing.

"You're not going to give up are you?"

Buffy smiled, "It's part of my charm." She then bit her lip, hoping that action would affect Angel like it used to. "So did I win, or do I have to resort to physical violence," she joked.

His only response to that question was to gently grab the back of her neck and pull her into a searing kiss. They abruptly pulled apart, though, and rushed up the stairs when they heard a piercing scream.

They bursted into the office, and Angel carefully avoided the sun streaming through the office. Expecting to find danger, they only found Cordelia with a duster in her hands surrounded by Doyle, Xander, Willow, and Oz.

"Angel," Willow exclaimed happily when she saw the duo that just entered, and trotted over to throw her arms around him. When his girlfriend let go, Oz exchanged his usual stoic pleasantries with Angel.

"What's with the screaming," Buffy questioned.

"Oh it was nothing. Cordelia was just afraid of the big bad cockroach. All is well now," Xander filled in, and earned a glare from Queen C. "Angel," he nodded in greeting, trying to be as friendly as he could be toward the ensouled vampire that captured his Buffster's heart.

"Xander," Angel returned.

"Okay," Cordelia interjected, "first thing. We need to call an exterminator-and a sign painter. We should have a name on the door!"

Angel gazed at Cordelia. "Okay. I'm confused."

"Doyle filled me in on your little mission," Angel gave Doyle a look and he just stared back guiltily/nervously, "So I was just saying, if we're going to help people, maybe a small charge. You know, something to help pay the rent, and my salary. You need somebody to organize things, and you're not exactly rolling in it Mr. I-Was-Alive-for-200-Years-and-I-Never-Developed-an-Investment-Portfolio."

"You want to charge people," Willow tried to clarify.

"Well not everybody. But sooner or later we are going to have to help some rich people, right? Right?"

"Possibly. Yeah.," Doyle helped out the brunette beauty.

"Hand me that box," Cordelia pointed to the box behind Angel, who looked at Buffy and the others for help. "So I think we should charge based on a case-by-case analysis, but with me working for a flat fee," She paused and went from determined to having a sad, pleading look that she perfected since coming to LA, "I mean, um... that is, if you think you can use me?"

Angel, once again, looked around the room, to find that everybody was staring at him expectantly. After a moment, he reached a decision and got the box Cordelia asked for and handed it to her with a smile, everybody was smiling with him.

"Of course this is just temporary-until my inevitable stardom takes affect." She walked into the other room, and those who knew her well rolled their eyes. Of course she had to ruin the moment with her infamous pride.

"A detective agency. This could be fun," Willow commented and proceeded to help Cordelia tidy up, Oz and Xander at her heels.

"You've made a good choice," Doyle said, "She'll provide a connection to the world. She's got a very... humanizing influence."

Angel and Buffy exchanged smirks after Angel wrapped his arms around his renewed girlfriend.

"You think she's a hottie," Buffy teased Doyle.

"Oh yeah, she's a stiffner alright, I can't lie about that. But, you know, she could use a hand."

"True," Angel replied, staring off into space.

"You know there's a lot of people in this city that need helping."

"Hmm. So I notice."

"You game?"

Angel paused before grinning at Doyle, "I'm game."

"And you Buffy," Doyle quirked an eyebrow at the slayer.

She stared at her friends, the Scooby gang, laughing and working together, and smiled.

"Yeah... we're in."

End...

Next up... "Lonely Hearts"

Lynn